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Intermediate Short Stories   A New Cat
Directions: First read the basic version of the story below. Next, read the advanced
version of the same story. Then, try to answer the questions about the story.
Basic Version
Christine likes cats. She has two brown cats. She really wants a black cat with
green eyes. Christine needs twenty dollars to buy a new cat. Her mother will let her have
the money if she does some jobs around the house.
 A cat costs a lot of money Christine. You will have to work to get the money to
buy one, said Christine s mother.  Okay, I understand. What would you like me to do?
replied Christine.  I would like you to help me wash and dry the clothes for the whole
week. Also, I would like you to clean the dishes after we eat, said Christine s mother.
 That is a lot! But I will do it, replied Christine.
Starting on Monday, Christine washed and dried the clothes. When dinner was
finished, she washed the dishes. When the end of the week came, Christine asked her
mother for the twenty dollars.
 I have done all the work you asked me to do. Can I have the money now mom?
asked Christine.  Of course you can. You have done all your work, replied her mother.
Christine was so happy. She got her money and went to buy a black cat with green eyes.
Advanced Version
Christine likes cats. She has two brown cats. She really wants a black cat with
green eyes. Christine needs twenty dollars to buy a new cat. Her mother will let her have
the money if she does some chores.
 A cat costs a lot of money Christine. You will have to work to get the money to
buy one, said Christine s mother.  Okay, I understand. What would you like me to do?
replied Christine.  I would like you to help me do the laundry for the entire week. Also,
I would like you to clean the dishes after we eat, said Christine s mother.  That is a lot.
But I will do it, replied Christine.
Starting on Monday, Christine washed and dried the clothes. When dinner was
finished, she washed the dishes. When the weekend came, Christine asked her mother for
the twenty dollars.
  I have done all the work you asked me to do. Can I have the money now mom?
asked Christine.  Of course you can. You have completed your work, replied her
mother. Christine was so happy. She got her money and went to buy a black cat with
green eyes.
Questions:
1. What color cat does Christine want?
2. How much money does she need to buy the cat?
3. What must she do to get the money?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does  chores mean? (paragraph 1, sentence 4)
2. What does  do the laundry mean? (paragraph 2, sentence 5)
3. What does  entire mean? (paragraph 2, sentence 5)
4. What does  weekend mean? (paragraph 3, sentence 3)
5. What does  completed mean? (paragraph 4, sentence 4)